A sad day today, for sure. For today is the last day that Netscape Navigator will be supported. Today is the end of a great browser and one that still has echoes in everything we use today. For those of you too young, or otherwise interested in other things (like WHAT?) I’ll give you a run-down of the beginnings of Netscape Navigator and the controversy that is still around today with it’s war against Internet Explorer.

It all started in the early 90’s. A guy called Marc Andreessen, who worked for a company called Mosaic which was originally born out of a University project to develop a Unix based web browser, decided to go it alone and develop a Web Browser based on the same code. The Mosaic browser was basic by today’s standards, but was instrumental in the development of the browser market, and what we use today. The University were unhappy with the use of the name Mosaic, so Marc changed the company to Netscape Communications Corp. Marc and his team made the Netscape web browser and initially decided to give it away free for personal use, but quickly back-peddled and restricted who could use the browser without a license. The thing that a lot of people don’t realise about web browsers is that they didn’t used to be free - they are pieces of software like any other, and the companies expected you to pay for them. Thankfully for the general public, Netscape was essentially free, so we used the non-profit version & companies paid for the licenses to use it on their PCs - although at that time the internet was really more of a curiosity than the necessity it is today.

So up until the mid 90’s, everything was good. The few that could afford to use the Web were using Netscape, and the browser very quickly took hold - at it’s peak it had almost 80% of the market share (with some reports stating 90%!) At this point the internet was starting to explode - normal people in the street were starting to take notice of the potential for the global superhighway, and corporations were taking notice too. One of the companies that were taking note was Microsoft.

Previously just a company that made an OS & some other software, Microsoft too could see the potential of the internet and to involve it in their OS. If they could have an environment that was seamless - where all of your information was available in one place, they felt their OS would cement it’s place in the market. People were getting excited by the internet and Microsoft wanted to make sure that interest was used to their advantage.

So Microsoft, previously only interested in the desktop, was now looking to create their own browser, which would interface with their OS. Obvious now, but back then it was a bit of a curiosity - it was almost like a company that had always built cars, to suddenly go out of their way to make garden furniture - just because the weather was hot! The problem was they didn’t have any expertise or history to back them up. What to do? Well they went to a company called Spyglass, which was originally part of the University that helped to develop the original Mosaic code - the same code that was used to develop the Netscape browser.

In a $2 Million deal, Spyglass would give Microsoft a license to use the Mosaic code in their browser, in return as well for royalties they made from sales. Microsoft agreed to these terms. Little did Spyglass know that Microsoft were going to give the browser away for free. At this point people started to realise that Microsoft weren’t just about an OS, built around a geek, but a cutting edge software manufacturer with a ruthless attitude to business. The idea of a free browser for everyone, corporations and personal usage really set the cat amongst the pigeons with Netscape - as it was obviously direct competition to their business model. And from Internet Explorer version 5, Netscape’s market share starting to take a dent. The biggest thing in those days with Internet Explorer, was the ease of use. Netscape was a great, fast and compliant browser, but Internet Explorer slotted well into the system - and considering most people were on dial-up internet - would even dial the modem to hook up your internet connection for you if you were offline and tried to use the browser. Users were given the choice when installing ISP software, what browser they wanted to install, and quite a few were starting to choose Internet Explorer. Just as Microsoft were starting to get some of the market with Internet Explorer, along comes the biggest piece of controversy for Microsoft - and one that people still know about today.

Windows 98 was on the cards, so Microsoft in their wisdom decided to supply Internet Explorer - built right in to the OS. If you wanted to use the file manager, it was basically Internet Explorer. If you wanted to move icons around the desktop - it was basically Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer was intertwined with the OS in such a way, it was difficult to remove. In fact the only way was with a hack, and a copy of the Windows 95 CD. Netscape immediately could see the writing on the wall, and started the ball rolling, with other software companies help, for an anti-trust law suit against Microsoft. The Department of Justice deemed it anti-competitive and monopolistic to supply a browser with their OS. They thought users deserved the choice. Microsoft’s reply was that users could still install Netscape or any other browser if they so wished. But then why would they? There was already a browser built right into the OS.. No picky installation routines, no setting up and no long-winded downloads over dial-up - it was right there. Users were much more likely just to use what they had than to go searching for something else - therefore stifling the competition. The DoJ thought so too and Microsoft were essentially given a slap on the wrist, told to divide up into smaller companies and were to open their books for the next 5 years to prove they were not doing anything of an anti-competitive nature. Users were also given the option of uninstalling Internet Explorer from their OS, which was previously missing from the menus. This was the primary reason for the release of Windows 98 SE (second edition) to comply with the DoJ’s rulings. What did that really mean? Well it meant that blame had been attributed to Microsoft, and opened the way for lawsuits from rival companies to cash in on Microsoft’s activities. Realistically, however, the damage had already been done. For years people would refer to Internet Explorer as “The Internet” - and some still do today - as it was their gateway to the web. Internet Explorer essentially killed off Netscape in one move.

After this time, Netscape found it increasingly more difficult to meet demands and keep up with security updates - funds were scarce and the company was struggling. In steps AOL in 1999 and acquires the company. With AOL’s backing, Netscape launch a lawsuit against Microsoft - blaming them for the downfall of the company. [Microsoft settle] with Netscape for $750 Million and essentially the last battle of the browser war is finished. Moving onwards, the Netscape developers with AOL’s help found “Mozilla” (which was the project code word for Netscape, in the early days.) The Mozilla Foundation as many of us today know, are the open-source community driven body that have been instrumental in the creation of Firefox, Thunderbird, Flock, Seamonkey and many other projects. It looks as though the Netscape legacy will live on in the form of Firefox, which is making big dents into Internet Explorer’s current dominance. It seems that people won’t just use a browser for convenience today - people will use their judgement to find the best solution, rather than opting for the first thing that they see.

So users of Netscape, what should you do? Well as today’s browser market is very much focused on security, you should move on to Firefox. The code-base is virtually the same, and you can even download a netscape-esque skin for Firefox to make you feel more at home! Indeed, just recently, Netscape has pretty much been reduced to little more than a “skin for Firefox.” The good news is Firefox will continue to be supported by the community, and will continue to be the safest browser of choice.

So it’s farewell to the Netscape browser, and thanks to all of the people behind it - past and present. It’s been fun. [SHOW ME]

In a hearing that will determine if wikileaks.org should continue to have it’s domain records empty are getting some lawyers on their side with the help of the EFF and the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union.) The two bodies claim that removing the records goes against the freedom of speech right that we all deserve.

I do agree that information should be made available to the public however, as long as it doesn’t endanger anybodies lives. The reason I make this point is because I did happen to notice that the US Rules of Engagement for Iraq are available on wikileaks and this document alone could put soldier’s lives at risk - after all if you know in what situations the US soldiers aren’t allowed to shoot at you, you could use that as an advantage, if you were a terrorist.

I guess what it boils down to is control of what documents should be made available. This would mean some person or organisation would have to control what was on the site. As soon as this happens it takes away the anonymity of the documents as that organisation would be responsible for what appeared. Therefore it would be impossible to post anything that was sensitive.. So I guess it’s either everything or nothing - you can understand on a certain level why governments are getting a little upset over this. [SHOW ME]

Microsoft, already owing the EU €497.2 million for an anti-trust suit regarding royalties from licensing, were imposed a huge fine of €899 Million by the commission today for failure to comply with the order. Apparently Microsoft are going to challenge the decision, as they were under the impression they were compliant and that the fines related to “past issues”. Watch this space. [SHOW ME]

After pressure from the UK, and the NY Times, not to mention the thousands of ex-users and privacy advocates everywhere, facebook conceded to allow users to permanently delete their profiles. And because of this, the UK watchdog ICO (Information Commissioners Office) have decided to drop their investigation against facebook. If you need to remove your facebook profile, visit the link [here] to get instructions on how to do so. I must admit, the first thing I did when I found out was to reactivate my account, then follow the instructions to get it removed permanently. Not that there’s anything wrong with using facebook, of course, just that when you don’t want to use it any more, it’s frustrating that they don’t remove your details permanently. After all, any company that prevents you from removing personal information about yourself are obviously there to use it to their advantage, not yours - which can’t be a good thing. [SHOW ME]

In another anti-Microsoft post (God I’m getting good at these recently) it appears Microsoft’s email servers are down.

Just remember, don’t fret if you see the “Service Unavailable” message when trying to access your hotmail account - maybe it’s fate just whispering gently in your ear - “time to move to gmail…”

Well they’re at it again. Not so long ago EA CEO John Riccitiello held up his hands and stated they made a big mistake when it swallowed up Bullfrog (creators of Populous and Theme Park) and Westwood Studios (Command & Conquer) with creators from the companies saying they were “buried and stifled” by EA. Electronic Arts are now on the move to acquire Take Two, who’s subsidiary, Rockstar Games, are on the verge of this years biggest release Grand Theft Auto IV.

T2 are not a small company which makes this deal seem even worse, with EA being the biggest games company with some of the biggest titles this can only be seen as a move for some quick money and to jump on the band wagon of the GTA series. What is also strange is that EA would move for a developer/distributor whose main games are of an adult rating. This deal would also see the takeover of Global Star Software and Gathering which are working on the very long awaited Duke Nukem Forever which also is likely to be of an adult rating. This could also be a move to compete with the recent merge of Activision (Call of Duty 4:Modern Warfare) and Blizzard (World of Warcraft) to make Activision Blizzard, Inc.

Below are some links to the news, with the bottom one showing the rivalry between EA and Activision Blizzard, Inc. The move would also see 2k games fall into the hands of EA, the people behind Bioshock (this could get ugly with EA’s track record.) Here’s the links before I get carried away.
[A history of EA’s spending habit] [EA Made a mistake] [EA conference call]
[The Letters] [Big headed EA]

And we know what starts in the server market finishes on the desktop. Intel released details to Sun of their next chip and wanted them to keep it pretty secret, however Sun let it slip on a public server over the weekend - oops. Maybe Intel won’t be so eager to announce their intentions to Sun in the future! [SHOW ME]

In move that isn’t entirely unexpected as it has been hinted over the last six months, the government has shown it’s intentions to stop pirates. Firstly by “encouraging” ISPs to self regulate themselves. If they don’t the ISPs could be held accountable, legally, and could have sanctions imposed. What these sanctions would be have not been decided, but you can guess it will hit their pockets hard. The reason nothing has been decided yet is plain and simple - there are European laws already in place that prevent the ISP being accountable for their customer’s actions. The fact is this isn’t going to be an easy problem to solve with government legislation. [SHOW ME]

I know, it’s not completely tech, but I do talk about gaming, and would like to a lot more on the blog - if I could recruit a certain person to write those pieces of gaming news I know you all crave once in a while.. But saving that, it has been announced, kind of, that Portal 2 is in development. In an interview on X-Play with the lead developer for Portal (and I guess Portal 2) she let slip that the sequel is on the cards. No mention of firm dates or anything though unfortunately. [SHOW ME]

See what I mean? Microsoft = bad, right? Well they’re trying to change all that with more gifts. If you’re a windows live user, you now get a free, shareable 5Gb of space. Lucky old you, eh? This shows that they think the reason Google are successful and dominant is because they give stuff away for free. Google = good.. After all, people are that stupid, right? [SHOW ME]